tinent to Mr. Thady, up and tould the masther all as I've tould
yer honours, of what took place at the Widdy's in Mohill, and how
av Mr. Thady would jine them to rid the counthry of the Captain,
they'd stand to him, and wouldn't let Mr. Keegan on the lands
of Ballycloran, right or wrong. Wid that there war a dale of
shilly-shallying--but at last the masther said as how he would jine
the boys in ridding the counthry of the Captain, and he thin agreed
to come down to the Widdy's the next night, or that afther, to get
the secret signs and the pass-words, and to take the oaths they war
to swear him to. Wid that he tuk an oath thin niver to tell nothin'
of what had passed that night. After that, I don't remember rightly
how it war, but he got up to look for Miss Feemy, and she war out
walking in the road wid the Captain. Well, Mr. Thady went down the
road afther thim--and there war a ruction in the road betwixt thim
two; but as I warn't there I can't say exactly what was said one side
or the other. By the time they come agin to Mrs. Mehan's door, Father
John, that's Father Magrath, you know, war there, and made the pace
betwixt 'em; and that's all I can tell yer honours about it av I war
to sit here till doomsday."

"You said just now," said Mr. Allewinde, "that the prisoner agreed
to join the men assembled at Mrs. Mehan's in ridding the country of
Captain Ussher; now what was meant by ridding the country of him?"

"Why isn't it ridding the counthry of him? yer honour knows what that
means as well as ere a boy in the barony."

"Perhaps I do; but you must tell the jury what you mane by it."

"Is it I? I didn't mane nothin' at all: it warn't I as said it--or as
war ever a going to do it."

"What did you suppose was the meaning of those who did make use of
the phrase?"

"I 'sposed the boys did mane to get rid of the Captain out of the
counthry; jist that, yer honour."

"But how did you suppose they were to get rid of him?"

"Oh, yer honour, I niver heard the particklars; I niver knew nothin'
of the plan. I warn't one of them, you know."

"But the prisoner agreed to join them in any plan, or in some plan
for ridding the country of Captain Ussher?"

"He did, yer honour; shure I said that before."

"Now, you said some time ago, that when you first discovered that
Captain Ussher had been killed by the prisoner, and that when you
came to remember yourself, you weren't much surprised. Now, thank
God! it is, at any rate